Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Catalinbread expands its DLS Series with new Little Secret and Clean Little Secret pedals - currently available at a discount alongside the original Compact DLS
What we have here is essentially a downward and sideways extension of the DLS Series - first with the lower-gain Clean Little Series compact edition - more akin to a BluesBreaker. And then a Mini version of the original DLS - the Little Secret - which contains just the dual-Mu Preamp section of the Dirty Little Secret - without the EQ’s.
All three of these are available current at a launch discount - and all these pedals are widely available now at international dealers - including all the usual suspects!
I’m not sure the world needs another BluesBreaker, while this is a decent take of that format for sure. And I’ve always favoured the Xotic Effects Mini SLP for diminutive pedal Plexi tones - not sure why I would want a stripped down variant instead - still cool to see Catalinbread evolve this series - it makes sense to cover all bases.
Further details on each below! :
Clean Little Secret - $179 > $153
Controls - Treble, Bass, Master, Pre-amp.
A lower gain version of the DLS - with an output profile more akin to a BluesBreaker / JTM45 - vs the Super Lead Plexi and Super Bass voicings of the original DLS. There doesn't seem to be an internal switch on this one either - all the controls are on the surface. Seemingly with quite expansive and interactive controls. It's a cool diffusion for Catalinbread, while it's not like we don't have dozens of varieties of BluesBreakers already - still a pretty decent take.
Little Secret - $139 > $119
Controls - Master, Pre-amp.
This is essentially a miniaturised version of the Dirty Little Secret - which just retains 2 of its siblings controls - Master & Pre-amp - where the Pre-amp controls two Mu-amp gain stages, the Master makes them louder!
There's no EQ's here, and no internal dip-switch to switch between Super Lead and Super Bass modes - unlike on its larger compact sibling.
There's no stand-alone demo of the Mini - you will need to refer to Jay Leonard J's above group demo.
Dirty Little Secret - $179 > $153
Controls - Treble, Middle, Bass, Master, Pre-amp.
Internal Slider - Super Lead / Super Bass.
The original combination Super Lead and Super Bass Plexi - via internal slider switch. I have a red version of this - but it can't compete with the Sinverteks or Fortins of this world! Still pretty decent sounding, and a long-term favourite of Andy Martin!
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